LOGAN, Utah — Graduate RB
Miles Davis produced a career-high 184 all-purpose yards with one touchdown and graduate QB
Bryson Barnes accounted for 262 yards of total offense and two touchdowns as Utah State opened the 2025 season and the
Bronco Mendenhall era with a 28-16 home win against UTEP on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Maverik Stadium. USU has now won four out of its past five season-openers.
Barnes finished the game with 229 yards on 19-of-28 passing with one touchdown, and added 29 yards and one touchdown on 15 rushing attempts. Davis led the Aggies in both rushing and receiving, carrying the ball 12 times for 88 yards and a score, while hauling in six receptions for 61 yards, both career highs. Junior WR Braden Pegan had 38 yards on five catches, both career highs, and sophomore QB Anthony Garcia finished with three receptions for 51 yards, also career highs.
Utah State finished with 356 yards of total offense to UTEP's 284 and held advantages in both rushing yards (127-103) and passing yards (229-181). The Aggies also avoided any turnovers for the first time since doing so at Wyoming last season. In fact, the 284 yards allowed by the Aggie defense was its fewest since the 2023 season opener at Iowa.
After forcing the Miners to a three-and-out to begin the game, the Aggies went 49 yards in 10 plays, resulting in a career long 49-yard field goal by junior PKTanner Rinker to open the scoring. UTEP responded immediately, using a 34-yard touchdown pass from Malachi Nelson to Kenny Odom to give the visitors their first and only lead of the contest
After trading three-and-outs, USU took over at their own 42-yard line and needed only one play for Davis to skirt the defense down the left sideline for 58 yards and the go-ahead score.
Sophomore CB Noah Flores thwarted UTEP's ensuing drive, intercepting a deep pass from Nelson to return the ball to the Aggie offense. Barnes again led USU on a lengthy drive, going 62 yards over 12 plays to set up a 28-yard Rinker field goal to put USU up 13-7.
Utah State scored again on its next possession as Barnes connected with graduate TE Broc Lane for a 52-yard touchdown.
UTEP answered with a drive in the final two minutes of the half, converting once on fourth down to set up a 42-yard field goal, sending the teams into halftime with the Aggies up, 20-10.
Following a UTEP punt to start the second half, Utah State drove 93 yards in just six plays as Barnes scored on a 12-yard run, followed by a 2-point conversion on a run up the middle from Garcia, giving the Aggies a 28-10 edge. UTEP added a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make the final score 28-16.
Senior CB Noah Avinger led Utah State with 11 tackles, while graduate ILB John Miller had 10 stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss. In all, 22 different Aggies made tackles in the game.
Special teams also played a significant role for USU as Rinker was a perfect 2-for-2 on both field goals and extra points. Sophomore P Landon Rehkow punted seven times with an average of 47.4 yards per punt, pinning three inside the 20-yardline and recording four punts of 50 yards or more.
Utah State had six first-time starters in the game and 36 players made their Aggie debut.
Up Next
Utah State football (1-0, 0-0 MW) heads to the road for the first time in 2025 to take on No. 19 Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 10:45 a.m. (MT).
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